Top seed Maria Sharapova crashed out of the WTA Paris Open in the quarter-finals on Friday after falling 6-4 6-4 to German ninth seed Angelique Kerber.
Sharapova had breezed past Kerber in straight sets en route to the Australian Open final last month but the 24-year-old exacted revenge on the world No.3 at a disbelieving Pierre de Coubertin indoor arena.
“It was a tough day because my opponent played really well,” admitted Sharapova. “I did have opportunities but I didn’t take them today.
“I was up in both sets and I had breaks but she played extremely well – much better than I did, in any case.
“I wasn’t as aggressive as I would have liked. She’s someone who also likes to go in and she has a good amount of power. She used that to her advantage more than I did.”
Kerber, the world No.27, had never previously beaten a top-10 player and will now face either Belgian world No.29 Yanina Wickmayer or 21-year-old German qualifier Mona Barthel for a place in the final.
Playing in her first tournament since losing to Victoria Azarenka in the Melbourne final, Sharapova broke Kerber’s serve twice in the opening set, only for the German left-hander to break back on both occasions.
Kerber, who reached the semi-finals at last year’s US Open, produced some flashing groundstrokes to go 5-4 up but the loss of the first set was all Sharapova’s doing.
The Russian netted a simple volley to hand her opponent a set point and then found the net again with an attempted down-the-line forehand to gift Kerber an unexpected one-set lead.
Sharapova’s shot-making took an erratic turn in a tight second set and after once again failing to protect an early break of serve, she tamely conceded defeat on Kerber’s first match point with an over-hit backhand.
Second seed Marion Bartoli, the last Frenchwoman in the draw, continues her quest for a first ever Paris Open title later on Friday against Italian seventh seed Roberta Vinci.
The winner of that match will face Czech world number 51 Klara Zakopalova after she came from behind to win 3-6 7-5 6-1 against German sixth seed Julia Goerges, who required treatment on a left thigh injury in the deciding set.